Chapter Text
Viktoria woke up to the sound of Grace’s alarm blaring throughout the room. Her eyes opened and she rubbed at them, light from the fixtures causing her to flinch just a bit as she awoke fully.
Pushing herself up in bed, she took a deep breath hearing the shower on in the restroom. She huffed low, throwing the blanket off and stretching out her legs, ankles rolling and toes wiggling as she did. She moved to put her feet onto the floor, stretching arms above her head before sighing.
She took a deep breath through her nose, shoulders rising and dropping as she sat there. She waited, guessing it was early in the morning, but she wasn’t sure. She ran a hand through her hair, nose scrunching up at the knots in the side of it. Despite her aunt combing through it the night prior, it had tangled in her sleep. She huffed a breath out and then got up feeling herself wake up fully as the shower turned off in the bathroom right down the short hall.
She tapped her cheeks with her hands as she went to the fridge in their small kitchenette, tugging it open and feeling around for the cool bottle of milk. Her hands connected with it, running up along the glass to make sure it was the correct thing before pulling it out entirely. She furrowed her brow as she reached up above the sink to grab a mug. She wiggled her fingers, feeling the handle at her fingertips as she hooked them around it and tugged it down.
She made a satisfied noise, wiggling side to side a bit as she carefully poured herself a glass of milk to drink before she got dressed for the day. She sipped at it slowly, holding it as she dug through her chest feeling the fabric of her jeans and the color of her shirts, picking out a pair each to wear.
She would be out in her Avatar most of the day, but she knew better than to wander around a lab in pajama’s. Even if it was for a short while. She set her mug down and went to changing out of her nightgown, tugging her jeans on hopping around as she got them fully pulled up. She wiggled a bit before slipping the nightgown off. Quickly clipping her bra on, fixing her chest and straps easily enough before picking up her shirt and putting it on.
The fabric was soft as she ran her hands along it as the door to the bathroom opened. She turned giving a smile, “good morning!” she said happily, the brush she had being run through her hair rather roughly as she worked through the knots.
“Oh, you’re awake. Good morning, dear.” Grace said with a smile, walking over to give her niece a kiss on the head, “breakfast soon, do you want me to help you with your hair?” she said, her voice holding amusement in it.
“Yes please. I got most of it, but I can’t tell.” Viktoria huffed out with a short laugh, handing the brush over. Grace chuckled before she finished brushing through Viktoria’s hair, braiding it quickly for her when she asked quietly.
When it was done the pair got their shoes on and left the small suite, the door clicking and locking shut behind them as they walked. Viktoria kept her hand curled around Grace’s arm as they walked.
“Did you sleep well?” She was asked quietly the further they walked towards the cafeteria.
“Oh yes. The bed was comfortable, but I was so tired from the day’s whole events and being freshly landed that I was quick to fall asleep.” Viktoria giggled, squeezing Grace’s bicep looking up at her with a soft smile, “plus Mom used to play music when it was time for bed, so hearing the same songs helped me rest easier.”
“Well, I’m glad I could help. She and I made a list of songs we both enjoyed as we grew up. So, I always kept it close at heart and made my own playlists with those songs to remember my family. Moreso when I moved here since I was so far away from all of you, and I didn’t know at the time how long I would be gone.” She leaned down a bit to rest her head against Viktoria’s gently, “but I have you now, and that’s what matters.” She straightened up after and Viktoria instead leaned against her the remainder of the way to get breakfast.
As they arrived, there was a chorus of voices as the others who had arrived as well greeted them. Max came over to the side, greeting both women with a smile before he held out something to Viktoria, “here, I managed to wrangle one of these bad boys from the medical wing, I just fixed it up a bit to help.”
Viktoria took the offered object, already knowing that it was a cane, and she gave Max a smile, “thank you very much.” She held it and slid it along the floor, “mom had me try one out briefly before I left, but it was much too short for me. This should be perfect.” She hummed fondly before they headed to the long table.
“Vik!” She turned hearing Jake call out. She smiled as the man wheeled up, greeting her with a fist bump. Norm followed shortly a few minutes later, greeting her with a head rub, to which she shoved him lightly before they settled down on either side of her.
She hummed happily when Grace set her tray down, “I figured you weren’t picky, so I just got what I usually get.” She said as she sat across from her next to Max.
“I’m not, food is food and I very much enjoy anything.” She laughed, grabbing the utensils that were sitting next to the plates. She could smell the eggs and toast, with bacon on the side. It smelled better than it looked, granted she could just barely tell what it was without the smell.
“Well, that should make traveling days easier.” Norm chuckled as he scooped eggs into his mouth.
“You’d definitely survive in the army if you can eat anything.” Jake commented, poking at her hand with his fork. She laughed, covering her mouth with her hand as she did.
“That I probably would believe. Mom and I used to eat whatever we could when we had to miss the grocery trip the previous week. But mixing and matching different foods are so fun, and interesting!” she commented with a smile before she took another bite of breakfast.
The conversation carried on lightly, laughs and important things being told around the long table as the café filled up with everybody else. Viktoria enjoyed being able to sit and talk about all the things she had learned growing up, surprising some of the scientists with the information she knew. But she told them it was because she had read the journals and books Grace had sent back home to her and her mother.
As breakfast slowly wrapped up, they began to talk about the things they would need for their trip outside. Grace walked off, followed by Norm, Viktoria, and Jake to where she had said their backpacks and clothing for going out were waiting.
Viktoria took her bag and sat on one of the benches with it beside her as she went through it and Jake helped her list off everything in it since she couldn’t read the writing or instructions on some of the items.
She tugged out a pair of khaki shorts, and then refolded them back into the bag, checking over the boots she would be wearing along with the layered top. And then she zipped the backpack up, tied the boots onto the bag to make transport easier until she was in her other body and carried it to where they would take them.
With a hum, Viktoria took a seat near the link pods, practicing with the cane by swinging it lightly along the ground, getting used to the sound of it as it went over the surface of the floor. She tapped it lightly against the things around her so she could learn the difference in sounds.
She knew her vision was worse in the dark, and Max didn’t know if it would worsen over time as the scarring got older so she figured that getting good at the cane now would most definitely benefit her later. She continued to wait quietly, looking around a bit as she did hear Norm and Jake conversing on the other side of the link pods before her aunt called her name.
She looked up as she was called over and with a huff slid off of the bench to walk on over, practicing still with the cane, lightly dragging it side to side in front of her. She found herself figuring out that when she hit something different, the sound it made changed. When she bumped into an object with the cane, it vibrated up the pole and she knew there was something there that couldn’t be moved.
While yes she was still able to see the object, admittedly just the general shape of it, the cane helped in giving her the ability to figure out the appropriate distance which was helpful. As well as helping in learning what material it was made of.
“Oh no somebody gave you a weapon.” Jake snorted with a chuckle as she came over to where Grace was now standing. She rolled her eyes with a huff, hitting his wheelchair lightly with it.
“Hush you. I still have a good bit of my vision, but Max figured he’d give me it now so if it worsens than I won’t be screwed later.” She shrugged as she set her large pack down on the seat beside them.
Jake and Norm helped her recheck it before it was taken to the ship for later. The extra set of clothing she would be changing into was set beside the outfits Jake and Norm had. And then one of the ladies took them and headed off to the barracks outside.
“You three ready to go out?” Grace asked, having gotten her morning cigarette and coffee finished and everything had been taken to go.
“Yes ma’am.” Jake and Viktoria chorused at the same time as Norm gave his own affirmative. Grace looked at the trio with a snort and a nod before motioning them to get into their pods.
Viktoria moved first, scooting ahead of the other two to the pod she had used the day prior. It opened and she climbed herself in, setting the new cane beside the pod so she could grab it once they were done and back for the evening.
“Alright kiddos in you go. I’ll see you all in a bit.” Grace waved as the other two got into their own pods. Viktoria laid flat and closed her eyes as the barrier placed over her and the lid shut. She took a deep breath and let her mind quiet, allowing her to drift off into a rest and into the body of her Avatar.
“Can you move any slower? Your big butt is in the way.” Viktoria pushed Jake’s shoulder’s as they crowded together onto the walkway to where the chopper was.
“I could, but Norm’s in front.” He laughed as they walked together, making room for her to walk beside him. Grace was in front of them talking to Trudy about what they were going to do and how long they would need. They would be back before Eclipse as they weren’t allowed to be out past it due to the dangers of it.
Viktoria hopped up onto the chopper once they arrived and she settled herself between Grace and Norm. jake was given a gun to man so he was closer to the door then they were. Viktoria was introduced to Trudy again formally and the other gunman, Wainfleet. He didn’t talk much at all, but he nodded his head and then went back to what he was doing.
They took off soon and while the flight was quiet, Grace answered questions that Norm would ask which ended up peaking Viktoria and even Jake’s interests. They conversed about the various flora and fauna while Viktoria compared some of the things she was told to stuff she had learned back home in school.
A lot of it was different, and a lot of it had changed but she was able to give comparisons of different animals and flowers. She explained how the majority of the animals that Jake and Norm remembered no longer existed and that mostly everything she had ever been taught had been from books. She explained that her mother eventually decided to homeschool her after she had gotten into a fight and had her hands smacked as punishment.
But she couldn’t answer their questions regarding middle school and high school since she had been pulled out right before the 6th grade.
They conversed like this until Trudy set down the chopper and they climbed out. Grace looked at Jake while he helped Viktoria clip into her bag, “You, marine. Because you’re the resident gunner here between us. And because she’s never held a gun before in her life, you’ll be her bodyguard. Norm and I should be fine, but I want you to stay with Viktoria.” She said with a pointed finger. Viktoria’s ears went back and she huffed in embarrassment.
But she gave a nod anyways as Jake agreed to watch her. So she stuck close to him while Grace and Norm began to look closer at the roots and the trees nearby. She skipped after Jake when he went off one direction and she told him about the plants.
He began to quiz her in Na’vi, the pair going back and forth while they walked through the plants. Viktoria stopped when they came to a bunch of plants. Her eyes widened and she smiled, “Helicoradian. Or Loreyu.” She looked at Jake, “’beautiful spiral’ that’s their actual name.”
“What?” he asked coming closer when she motioned. He quietly repeated the word as she pulled him up to her side.
“Touch it!” She urged softly, taking his hand to raise it and touch it. He did and the plant immediately recoiled into itself becoming small. He jerked back and she laughed at him, “it won’t bite, it just recoils inward. You can touch them and they all will do that.” She showed him as she moved ahead to run her hands along the tips of the plants. She laughed when they would recoil inward after a single touch.
“Hey, hey Vickie come back.” Jake called out as she skipped off through the plants. She heard him rustling behind her as she continued to move the plants giggling softly. She had always read about them but never thought she’d be able to actually interact with these plants. She was gleeful as she did before the plants in front of her all closed and shrunk in an instant.
She froze as Jake came up behind her when a young titanothere hammerhead appeared in front of them. She made a noise in her throat as her ears went back. She let lose a hiss instinctually as she was pushed behind Jake.
He raised his gun up and Viktoria held onto his jacket when Grace’s voice came from behind, “don’t shoot you’ll piss him off.” She urged quietly, “don’t shoot.” She repeated when Jake hissed.
“What am I supposed to do, dance with it?” He asked as the calf tossed his head side to side hitting his head against the trees beside him. Viktoria swallowed as Jake moved with her forward, raising his voice and yelling at the calf. Viktoria held fast when the calf balked and then turned to run back to its parents.
Her ears twitched and so did her nose as Jake taunted and jeered at the calf. She turned hearing something jump up behind them. It sounded large and her eyes widened while her ears flattened to her head. Jake turned at the same time, quickly grabbing and pushing her behind him once more, his hand not letting go of her arm.
“What about this one? Run, don’t run? What?” He asked.
“Palulukan.” Viktoria whispered at the same time as Grace’s yell of, “Run, definitely run.” She made a noise when Jake suddenly took off sprinting with her, knowing he couldn’t toss her towards grace due to the Thanator having the pair in its sights.
She squeaked as he tugged her along, tearing through the brush and the trees as the Thanator gave chase. She sucked air in through her nose and out of her mouth as they sprinted. Sometime along the way, Jake yelled for her to remove her pack so she could move faster and keep up with him.
She tossed her backpack behind her, the Thanator making a loud noise as she hit it with the bag. She ran with Jake, the man not letting go of her arm as he pushed her in front of him to climb through a fallen tree.
She slid through, crawling rapidly along the bark ignoring the scrapes against her knees and hands as she did.
“MOVE Viktoria go, go go.” He pushed at her to move faster through the tree as they did. She wedged her way out, forcing herself out through the hole that was there as Jake followed. They scrambled up and moved, his hand taking her arm again to sprint.
She tripped but quickly caught herself, feeling the breath of the Thanator at their heels as they continued to sprint through the forest. Her lungs burned and so did her legs, but she refused to stop, keeping her eyes on Jake’s back as they ran.
Jake called out a cliff edge with a waterfall and the next thing she knew, he was jumping off and over it pulling her with him. She released a scream as the Thanator swiped out with its claws while they fell off the cliff.
The pair crashed into the water and resurfaced separately. Viktoria coughed as she swam to where she heard Jake’s voice calling out to her, crawling herself to the bank as he helped her up. The second she was standing on two feet, a searing pain shot up her leg.
She cursed, flinching down and grabbing onto him tightly as he helped move her up further and onto dry land. She took a deep breath while he all but drug her to a place to sit down so he could check over her leg.
She sat back as he examined it, carefully moving her leg even as she cried out in pain. He looked up at her and then back down at the claw wound cursing under his breath, “Okay, I’m going to wrap it up and then we got to get moving. Maybe we can find the others, but I’m going to need you to walk with me. You think you can?” he asked, tearing into his top and wrapping it around her upper calf to staunch the bleeding.
“Yeah, yeah I can.” She said with a nod, grabbing onto him to pull herself back up. He wrapped an arm around her waist and together they began to trek along the forest once more. Slower and easier this time with the Thanator no longer chasing them.
The pair traveled as the sky got darker and it got closer to Eclipse. Viktoria trudged along, her steps getting slower until Jake had to piggyback her in order to keep moving. She rested against him cheek pressed into his back as he held onto her careful of her leg.
“Stay awake Vickie.” He shifted her up to keep her awake as they walked, “can’t have you falling asleep until we’re safe.” He told her quietly. She mumbled softly, but she promised not to fall asleep.
“We better find them quick than, if not them then the Omatikaya.” She whispered, shaking her head to keep conscious. Jake looked back at her as they walked, noting she didn’t look well at all; so he began to move a bit faster.
“We will. I promise, you just gotta stay awake.” He said softly, “I promised Grace that I would protect you, so I will do that. Just… you need to stay awake. Keep talking to me, tell me about your mom.” He encouraged, hefting her higher. He had removed her boots earlier so she would be easier to carry and there would be less noise if she was able to walk once more.
“My mom? She’s Aunt Grace’s big sister, well twin and they’re identical. I see Aunt Grace and I think of Mom. Her name’s Faith, so Grace and Faith.” She hummed softly, “Mom taught me all I know and she gave me all of the books Aunt Grace sent back.” She laughed, “she told me about all the things they used to do when they were little. Mom wanted to be a xenobotanist too, but she met my Dad and had me, so she didn’t get to follow the same path. But she never regretted it she said.” She explained quietly.
She went on to tell him funnier stories about her life growing up which had them both laughing before Eclipse settled completely over them and the path’s lit up. Jake made a noise and lifted Viktoria higher so she could rest her chin on his shoulder, “Look at that!” She exclaimed with a tired excitement.
“It’s beautiful.” He said and Viktoria happily agreed. They walked along in a comfortable silence, Jake’s ears twitching while the forest filled with sounds around them. Viktoria’s tail twitched and her ears wiggled about.
The pair of them both perked up at the same time and they slowed to a stop. Jake shifted her weight, so she was holding onto him with her own strength; while he dug around for a stick to make a torch out of. Viktoria slid out of her flannel and handed it to him so he could use it before he held tighter to her.
He made the torch as she kept an eye out, head perked and senses alert amidst her exhaustion from both blood loss and the adrenaline from the day wearing down completely. She warned Jake that something was moving in the brush right as the creatures began to make noises.
They laughed and cackled softly, similar to a hyena’s that Viktoria remembered being told about. Viperwolves. She huffed and looked around as Jake lit the torch up so the area was illuminated in firelight. He spun with her holding onto him as the creatures moved closer.
They smelled the blood and they knew the pair were exhausted, so it made sense that they would surround them. Viktoria gripped tighter to Jake, head pressed against his back, biting into her lip as she was jostled. She would rather be jostled than risk being killed.
When they were surrounded entirely, they were suddenly attacked. A woman appeared and began to fight off the pack as Jake did his best to protect Viktoria and defend himself at the same time. Two of them were killed and a third was mortally wounded. The rest of the pack quickly fled and the woman looked at them, taking the torch and tossing it into the water nearby.
She looked at them, eyeing Jake and then looking at Viktoria on his back before moving to put the last viperwolf out of its misery. Viktoria bowed her head and softly apologized as Jake stepped forward, “Uh thank you. For saving us back there.” He said hesitantly, reaching a hand out while the other held Viktoria steady.
The woman looked at him and stood straight, eyes narrowed. She was a native, the way she held herself and her bow spoke it before she opened her mouth and scolded him in English, “This is sad. They did not deserve to die. Do not thank me, you are like child. And you put one in danger more.” She motioned with her hand towards Viktoria.
“My sister got attacked when we were being chased by a…” “palulukan. A palulukan attacked us.” Viktoria finished for Jake, “we are lucky to have survived this far.” Jake continued before he followed the woman as she got up to leave.
“Stop following me.” She said after a few minutes of Jake jogging after her, keeping balance whilst carrying another person. Viktoria yawned, shaking her head as the earlier adrenaline once more faded and she felt even more exhausted than before.
“Hey, hey don’t sleep just yet sweetheart.” Jake said, moving Viktoria up to regain her attention. She apologized, her words a bit slurred as the woman looked at them. Jake looked back at her, ears flat to his head, “she just needs help. Please.” He begged quietly, “I promised I would protect her, and I nearly got her killed.”
She regarded him with cool eyes before huffing and turning. She didn’t turn him away, but she didn’t tell him to follow along. So, he went with his instinct and ran after her. He nearly slipped but she steadied him and called him stupid.
The name made Viktoria snort, much to Jake’s relief before they continued. As they traveled woodsprite began to fall downward. Jake made to shake them off as they landed on his head and arms, few falling on Viktoria’s head and limbs. Her body sagged in relief when they settled over the soaked through cotton on her leg before they flew back off.
The woman frowned, “Neytiri.” She introduced herself, “This way.” Her attitude changed and she led Jake off once more.
“Jake and this is Viktoria.” He spoke for them both as they moved. Neytiri didn’t speak much but she would look back at them occasionally to make sure they didn’t get lost or fall over. The area changed as the forest lit brightly with the bioluminescence around them. Their own markings glowed in the night and it was calm.
Until it wasn’t.
Jake’s legs were suddenly knocked out from under him and in his surprise his grip tightened on Viktoria before she was knocked out of his grip. She made a pained noise as she hit the floor hard before Neytiri came over to her. She was helped back up as she yelled at her people.
They looked at the pair mostly Jake, as he was the stronger one. Neytiri and the others conversed quickly in Na’vi. Too quickly for Viktoria and Jake to understand with their own simple understandings. But then she was being lifted and thrown onto the back of a direhorse, a pa’li, before being held down with a hand. She huffed through her nose as they took off and she lay there, eyes squeezed shut every time her leg bounced against the side of the creature.
Arriving to the Home Tree of the Omatikaya was a strange occurrence. They were stared at as they arrived. Viktoria was tugged down and she was half carried to the center as Jake was pushed into it. She sat down on the floor, Neytiri at least helping her down before she went to go speak to her parents. Viktoria knew this only from what she had read and what Grace had told them.
Jake introduced himself after nearly getting killed and looked down at Viktoria, “and this is Viktoria. Augustine. Grace’s family.” He explained quickly before he was asked more about himself. If she wasn’t more in pain, Viktoria would’ve laughed at him referring to the base as the Jarhead Clan. It made sense, given he was a marine and the base had a lot of soldiers running around.
Then the Tsahik turned towards Viktoria, “and this one?” She stared openly at her, moving over to observe her closely, a hand coming to brush across the white birthmark.
“Her name is Viktoria. She’s Grace’s family. I was supposed to be protecting her and she got hurt. She would like to learn as well, but she needs help first.” He said quietly. She looked at Jake and then at Viktoria before making a small head motion.
“Tsu’tey carry this one to my hut.” She said and the man who’s direhorse Viktoria had been laid on came over. Without a word he picked her back up ignoring her wince before he silently carried her off.
She looked over his shoulder at Jake who was staring at her as they disappeared from site. When they made it to the hut, he set her down none too kindly and then left just as quickly. Viktoria scooted herself the best she could into a better position while waiting for the Tsahik.
The entrance to the hut moved as she walked in and crouched quickly removing the soaked shirt and tsked softly, “it could be worse. Not many survive an attack from a palulukan.” She commented as she went to work cleaning and stitching the wound.
Viktoria held still the best she could, chewing her lip as the wound was cleaned, “I nearly didn’t. Thank you.” She said softly, “My aunt has spoken kindly of you before.” She said watching the elder woman work. She was amazed at the efficiency, and how quickly she had it redressed and cleaned.
She looked up at her and a faint smile was on her face, “Grace is a friend. You have the same inquisitive gaze." she commented before standing with the supplies and old cloth, “Food will be brought to you. Eat and then sleep Family of Grace.” And with that she left.
Viktoria sat there in silence hearing the Omatikaya move around outside. A bowl of food was brought to her, and she was left once more in silence. She ate it quickly, her body famished from the events of the whole day. She ate until the bowl was empty and set it down beside her.
She stretched her arms above her head, yawning as she felt incredibly drowsy. There must’ve been medicine in the food to help me sleep, she thought before she allowed herself to finally rest.